3. At least 28 more than a birthday cake: Dwight Eschliman’s 37 Ingredients for a Twinkie. (Pictured)

4. Eternal shelf lives, perfect mouthfeels and unalterable consistency doesn’t come naturally, it’s brought to you by a quiet army of food scientists. The Institute of Food Technologists bring you the latest in ultrasonic processing, tips on how to get creative with hydrocolloids, and news about the latest breakthrough in mapping the aromatexture of blue cheese.

6. It isn’t just the scientists who are trying to recreate nature by getting as far away from it as possible. A Michelin Chef’s Formula for Future of Fine Dining (The Times) means that: “Tomorrow’s chefs will frown upon plain vegetables, such as carrots, he says, and will instead use the molecules which make up carrots — caroteniods, pectins, fructose and glucuronic acid.”

Leading image: Red 40, one of the 37 ingredients in a Twinkie. (Image by photographer Dwight Eschliman)